Bus duct with power take-off means



Oct. 29, 1968 s. s. FousE BUS DUCT WITH POWER TAKE-OFF MEANS Filed NOV. 16, 1966 Oct. 29, 1968 s. s. FoUsE BUS DUCT WITH POWER TAKE-OFF MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 16. 1966 l3,408,454 i 'A f' BUS DUCT WITH POWER'TAKE-OFF MEANS Samuel S. Fous'e, Aliquippa, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.,.a corporation of Pennsylvania f Filed Nov. 16, 1966, Ser.,No. 594,883r l 1.,

9 Claims.;(Cl. 4174.--71) Bus duct is generally manufactured'in unit' sections; which sections are connected ltogether at anins'tallation to provide a run of duct.A For increased utility, it iis desirable to provide'mea'ns for tapping" power 'o'fofthe busduct at the connection of sections of duct. i Y Accordingly, an object of this inventonis'to provide improved bus duct comprisingconnectable sections with means for tapping power oif of the bus duct at theconnection. l l.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved Ibus duct comprising sections connectableby means'of a single bolt connector, anda power take-olf device removably connectable to the busduct` by means ofthe'single bolt connector. e

A general object of this invention is to provide proved bus duct having increased utility. t

description ofthe main body part of the`bus ;dluct vsection is. given herein; Theopposite ndSfS, and `7J and 2.1.89. i319 connectingy means for -connecting the sections,ldi ier.in construction from that ofthe abovementioned application ofharleslsweimer et al. These ditflerentpartsfo bus duct sectionwill be specificallydescribed;...` f

.A Each of the .bus bars 143 comprisesari'gid conducting 4bar 15 and an insulating sleeve 17 supported. on thecem-h ducting bar. 15. Each insulating sleeve17 terminates of the Opposite endsof the associated bus ,barg15to1 pro; vide uninsulated end portions"tovpermitconneetion pitite busbar toga lbus bar of a similar section in afl-Overlappin' relationship. The bus bars 13are supportedmatgthvemain body part,ofthesection,j by means; of a pluralityconbolts 1 9 that drawpartsV of `theph'ousving structure 11 i nwardly toward each other to thereby draw the lti'1,s. b, ar,s 13 into a .Compact .relationship in thefmannevdislQsed' `11.1.14. above;me ntioned patent application ofzCharlels'lL. -Weimer etal --7 .7 Y

Each of the uninsulated bus.4 bar portions y15,.at the connecting-end part 5,V has a slot 21 therein. v Each nof the uninsulated ybar portions.15, at the connecting-end part These andother objects of this invention will become more apparent uponV consideration of the following detailedV description when taken in conjunction withb the accompanying drawings. f In said drawings: l FIGURE 1 is a top plan' view, with partsbjrokenoaway, of bus duct constructed in accordance with principles 'of this invention;` I V FIG. 2 i's a side view, with parts broken away and with parts shown in sectionof. the bus duct illustrated'inf FIG. 1;

` FIG. 3 is a sectional View taken generallyzalongthe i line III-III of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, shown partlyin section, of one of the insulating spacing means'seen in FIGS. 1-3;and'1 FIG. 5 is a perspective view, with partsf brolren'avvay A and with an insulating cover shown partly'inJsectiomof one of the take-olf bus, structures of the power take-off device of FIGS. 1-3.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown, in FIGS.` 1 and 2, an elongated section 3 of bus duct comprising a first connecting end part 5 at one end thereof and atsecond connecting end part 7 at'the other end thereof. The'con-` necting end part 7 of the section 3 is connected to theI connecting end part Y5' of a similar section 3. A power take-off device 9 (FIGS. 1-3) is connected to the busl duct sections 3, 3' at the connection of the sectionsf The bus duct section 3 comprises a housing structure 1'1 and a set of three bus Ibar conductors 13 ,supportedY in the housing structure 11 in a generally parallel mutually vliatwise face-to-face relationship. As can be" seen in FIG. 2,4 the bus bars 13 are sandwiched together in a compact relationship at the main body part of the section, and they are olfset at the opposite ends 5, 7 of the sectionV to enable connection `of the section to a similar section:

7,- is provided with an opening thereinfor receiving?. bolt 25, and an insulating tube 27 that is positioned over the bolt 25, which bolt 25 and insulating tube 27 are supported on the connecting-end part 7 ofthe bus duct section 3. Insulating means, comprising two inner insulating.members 31 and two outer'insulating members33, are supported on the bus duct section 3 at the connecting end part 7 of the section 3 to space thevbus bars-at thel connection and to provide insulation between the uninsulated connecting portions of the bus bars at the` nection. Each of theinsulating members 31, 33 'is a rigid molded ldisk-shaped insulating member. Eachgof the insu'- lating members 31, 33 is provided with anopeningr 35 (FIG. 4) through the center thereof for receiving thebolt 25 Aand insulating tube 27 (FIG. 2).

The power take-off device 9 is connected to the bus duct sections 3,` 3' at the connection of the sections. The power take-off device 9 comprises a housing structure 37 and three power take-off bus bar conductor structures 39. Each of the take-off bus bar conductor structures 39 comprises a rigid conducting lbar 41 (FIG. 5') and .two conducting bars 43 secured to the bar 41' by means :of rivets 45. The bars 43 are bent over at 47 to provide a spacing between the external ends of the bars .that is slightly larger than the dimension of the overlapped .bars

15 ,-of the sections 3, 3 at the connection. The-barsAS are provided with slots 49. therein so that each vof the bars 43 comprises two leg-parts 5I 'at the external end thereof. A separate insulating tube 53 is supported Aon,

and covers each of the bars 41 and parts of theassociated e vided Vwith suitable slots therein for receivingfthe takeoif The main body part of the section, including the housing I bus structures 39. The insulators 54 are suitably secured inthe housing 7 to secure the power take-off bus structures 39 in the housing 37 in a generally parallel mutually atwise spaced relationship.

Each of two opposite housing wall parts-of thehousing structure terminates short of the uninsulated end-parts of the bus bars at each end of the sectiomEach of these wallparts terminates at 55 (FIG. 2)4 at oney endy and at 56 at the other end. Each of the other two opposite housing wall parts comprises an end part 57 at one end thereof and an end part 58 at the other end thereof. Each of the end parts 58 is provided with an opening for receiving the bolt and nut structure 25, 61,63 as seen in FIG. 2. At the connection the end parts 57 of the similar section 3,` underlap with the end parts 58 of the disclosed section nne'r"shw in FIG. 2. With the two opposite r'edtoithe vhousing 'structure '11' by suitable securing nens'isuchas'screws `61:"If the sections 3,/3ffare conilcte'd without a power take-off device 9,'two cover pltes'can be used to close off theI two open sides of th.e'"`du'ct housing at the connection. t 1

'f *Thhousing parts 58 are' provided with openings there'- in (ir 'receiving the'bolt 25;'Thebolt 25, extends through f-r Y thesef-openings so that the bolt-head 61- and a nut 63 are cces's'iblei'for operation. Two spring washer members' 65 arepr'ovided at 'the outer sides of the outer 'insulating members 33. The insulating members 31, 33; the bolt 25 and nut 63; the insulating tube 27 and the spring washers 65 are lall supported on the connecting end part' 7 of the bu's duct section 3. The spring washers 65, the insulating members 31," 33 and the bus bars 15, at the connecting end part 7 of the section 3, are all provided with openings therein that are only slightly larger than the bolt 25 and Vtube 27 for receiving the bolt 25 and tube 27. The bolt 25 and nut 63 support the insulating spacing members 31, 33 and spring washers 65 on the bus bars at the connectingend part 7 of the bus duct section 3. When it is desired to connect a similar section 3' to the bus duct section 3, the n connecting-end part 5 of the similar section 3 is moved into an end-to-end relationship with the connecting-end part 7 of the bus duct section 3. During this connecting operation, theslotted ends of the bus bars of the bus duct bers 33 are engaged by the spring washers 65. The inner 'fiat' surface' parts75 of the outer insulating members 33,

and the two opposite flat surface parts of each of the inner insulating members 31, engage the bus bars 15, 15' when the sections 3, 3,are connected without a power take-off .device Ainamanner to be hereinafter described. .When it'v is desired; to remove theh power take-off devicef9,'-the screws. 59 (FIG. 3')v are removed, and the nut 63 and bolt 25 are loosened to relieve the pressure connection whereupon thepower take-01Tl device 9 can be pulled out away from the 'connected sections 3, 3'. The opening in the housing part. at the connection may be closed by aa ciovervplate like the cover plate 60. With the power takeolf device removed,- the bolt and nut 63 can be tightened drawing the insulating spacing members 31, 33 toward each other inwhich` case the bus bars 15, 15 will engage at surfaces 75 (FIG. 4) of the associated insulating spacing members 31, 33 to provide pressure between the insulating members 31, 33 and the bus bars 15, 15',to thereby connect the bus bars 15, 15 in an overlappingconnected relationship. The spring washers 65 provide contact pressure at the connection. When it is desired to disconnect the sections 3, 3 of the bus duct,

` .1 the bolt 2.5 and nut 63 are. loosened, the cover plates 60 areremoved and the section 3 is pulled awaywith the bolt 25 and tube 27 leaving the slots of the slotted. ends of the connecting-end part 5 of the bus duct section 3.

The insulatingy spacing members 31 and 33 are given different reference characters .only because it is necessary sectionv 3 receive the vbolt 25 and tube 27, and the uninsulated end parts of the bus bars at th'e section 3 are positioned in overlapping relationships with the uninsulated end parts of the bus bars of the section 3. Thereafter, the power take-olf device 9 is moved into the position seen in FIGS. 1-3, with the opposite bars 43 of each of the take-olf bus structures 39 overlapping the two different overlapped bus bars 15, 15', and with the opposite legs 51 (FIG. V5) of each bar 43 moving into a pair of spaced parallel slots 67 (FIG. 4) that are provided in theinsulating spacing members 31, 33. When the sections 3, 3 and the power take-off device 9 are in the position disclosed in FIGS'. 1-3, the nut 63 `and bolt 25 `are tightned drawing the spring washers 65 toward each other t0 thereby draw the insulating spacing members 31, 33 and the conductors 43, 15,'15 toward each other into a compact sandwiched relationship to thereby provide a pressure connection between each set of conductors 15, 15', 43 at the connection. The cantilever supported bars 43 ex slightly to effect the pressure connection when the nut 63 and bolt 25 are tightened. The spring washers 65 provide contact pressure at the connection. During this connecting operation, the leg parts 51 of the power takeotf bus structures 39 engage the flat surfaces 71 at the bottoms (FIG. 4) of the slots 67. It is noted that the thickness of each of the leg parts 51 is a dimension slightly greater than the depth of the associated slot 67 in order to enable the pressure connection to be made by compacting the insulating members 31, 33, and conductors 15, 15', 43 together in a sandwich-type arrangement. Each of the insulating members 31, 33 is provided with slanted surfaces 73y (FIG. 4), on the opposite faces thereof, that widen in the direction toward the center of the insulator to .thereby provide cam or guide surfaces to guide vthe bus bars into the connected position. Each of the'insulating members 31, 33 is provided with a hat surface part 75 at each of the two opposite faces thereof. The outer flat surface parts 75 of the two outer insulating memthat each of the inner insulating spacing members 31 be provided with means for receiving the conducting prongs 51 at each of the'two opposite sides thereof whereas each of the outer insulating spacing members 33 need only be provided with means for receiving the conducting prongs 51 at the inner side thereof that faces the bus bars.

'In the embodiment shown in the drawings, first surface means 71 (FIG. 4) of the insulating members 31, 33 engage the adjacent conductor 43 to ,provide the pressure type connection when the power take-ofdevice 9 is connected to the bus duct sections 3, 3', and second surface means 75 (FIG. 4) engage the adjacent bus bars 15, 15' to provide the pressure type connection when the bus duct sections 3, 3 are connected together without a power take-off device.

Each of the take-off bus Ibar conductor structures 39 could be constructed with only one of the pair of bars 43. For example, each of the bus bar conductor` structures 39 could be constructed with only the top bar of the pair ofv bars 43. In this case, when the power take-off device is in the connected position, the first surface means of the insulating spacing vmembers 31, 33 would be the sunface 71 (FIG. 4), of the insulating spacing members'31, 33,'that would be adjacent the top bars 43, and the surface 75, of the insulating spacing members that would be adjacent the bus bars =15 (FIG. 3). The sections would be connected without the power take-olf device in the same manner as was previously described in that the bus bars 15, 15 would be engaged by the second surface means 75 (FIG. 4) that would engage the adjacent bus bars 15 'and 15' to provide the pressuretype connection. p

From the foregoing it can be understood that there is provided by this invention improved bus duct comprising two similar sections removably connected in an end-to-end relationship by means of a single-bolt connecting structure, and a power take-olf device that is removably connectable to the sections at the connection by meansotf the single-bolt connecting structure. The connection comprises Ea plurality of overlapped sets of bus bar conductors with each set comprising a bus bar conductor from each section andT a'power take-off bus structure of the power take-off device. Insulating spacing members are provided to insulate and space the setsof connected bus bar conductors from each other, and a single bolt is tightened to draw spring washers toward agonisti pairnof forked conductorsfthat engage :overlapped bus;

the bus-duct sections. are readily connectableand discon-.z

nectable.ataninstallatiomv .r g .l f? f: .A

Since numeroustchanges mayfibe -made in. thegabovee: described construction; ,randa-because :different e'riibodiments tot the inventionmayfbe :madef without; departing from. the spirit andI 'scope-of the r invention, .it zis intended thatA ',all-l mat'terrcontained fin rthe ;fore-going .description.zor shownyyin: :the ..aecmpanying :-drawing's shall :fbe inter`v preted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim .as my invention:U Pi-'ff 1. In combinatiqn; two elpngatedsetions of bus duct and a power talze-oil` device; conductingmeans comprisiiiga plurality of generally Hat! bu's bancondpctorsin each of said sections and a 'pluality'of' take-od bus bar conductor structures-in said power. take-off device; each of said sections comprising a4 plurality. ofsaid generally at bus bar conductors and meanssupporting the bus bar Conductors inf"afseuerallyiparalls acens-.fase telef tionship; said power take-olf device comprising a take-off bus bar conductor structure lfor each olf the bus bar conductors in one of said sections; connecting means connecting said two sections and said power take-od device together at a connection in lapped sets with each lapped set comprising a different :bus bar conductor of a first of said sections, a diiferent bus bar conductor of the second of said sections and a different take-off bus bar conductor structure of said power take-off device; insulating spacing means at said connection; securing means in a tightened condition drawing said sets and said insulating spacing means together into a compact sandwiched relationship at said connection; said insulating spacing means spacing and insulating said sets from each other; said insulating spacing means comprising a separate insulating spacing member on each of two opposite sides of said plurality of bus bar conductors and take-od bus bar conductor structures and a separate insulating spacing member between each pair of adjacent sets; said insulating spacing members comprising irst surface means engaging said conducting means in said connected position; said securing means being loosenable and said power take-oif device being removable from said connection when said securing means is loosened; said securing means being tightenable when said power take-off device is removed whereupon said securing means draws said insulating spacing members'and said bus bar conductors into a compact sandwiched relationship connecting said sections together with each of the bus bar conductors of said first section being in a lapped connected relationship :with the yassociated different but bar conductor of the second of said sections; and said insulating spacing members comprising a second surface means engaging said bus bar conductors when said sections are connected together with said power take-olf device removed.

2. The combination according to claim I1; and said securing means comprising a single bolt passing through opening means in said insulating spacing members, said bus bar conductors and said take-01T bus bar conductor structures.

3. The combination according to claim 2; and each of said take-olf bus bar conductor structures comprising a pair of spaced bus bars engaging the associated lcwo connectedr'lapped bus bari conductorson `each of the two opposite sidessof the two connected lappedrlbus bar conductors 1in -the connected position thereof. 15.4; The combination-.accordingitoclaim'3; and each of said spacedJ bus bars v0f each of said take-off bus barconductorbstructures... eomprisng'- .a Hconductor, Ihaving a slot therein receiving said bolt' means of said securing means in thefconnectetlposition thereof.y f5. The"combination "according-to claim 4; and each of' said insulating` spacing. members''having slot means therein iorreceiving the bus bars of -each adjacent take# otf- 'bus barfconductorstructure.with thel base of each slot meansbeing partfof said-firstsurfac'e'vmeansf '6.v In combination; 'two'elongatedsections of bus duct and'- afpower-takeoif device; 'conducting means comprising apluralityprf elongated-bus .bar vconductors in each off-'said sections' and fa' plurality of busbar conductor structuresv invsaid" power/takeoff device; leach of said sectons-comp'risinglan "elongated housing and .a plurality said'busjbar'conductors supported in the housingin a -spaced stacked-relationship;`said power take-olf device-comprising Ysupportgme'ans and said plurality of bus liar' conductorstructures/supported lon said support n ieansin'` a spaced 'stacked relationship; connecting means connectingsaid two sections arid said power take-'off dei vice 'together at a connection vinlapped sets with 'each lapped set comprising a diier'ent bus ba'r conductor :from eachof said sections and a diterent bus bar conductor structure from said power take-oli device and with said sections being connected in a generally end-to-end rela-l tionship; 'insulating spacing means'- at said connection spacing' and..insulating Asaid sets from4 each other; said connecting means comprising securing means in a tightened condition drawing said sets and said insulating spacing means together in a stacked compact sandwiched relationship at said connection, said insulating spacing means having slot means therein open at at least one side of said sections; said bus bar conductor structures extending into said open slot means from said one side of said sections; said insulating spacing means comprising a trst surface means in said slot means engaging said conducting means to effect said connection; said tightened securing means being loosenable and said power take-od device being removable from said connection with said bus bar conductor structures moving out through said open slot means at said one side of said section; said securing means being tightenable when said power take-off device is removed; and said insulating spacing means comprising a second surface Ameans external of said slot means for engaging said bus bar conductors to effect va connection between said bus bar conductors when said securing means isti-ghtened with said power take-01T device removed which tightening will draw said insulating spacing members and said bus bar conductors together in a stacked compact sandwiched relationship.

7. In combination; two elongated sections of bus duct and a power takeoff device; conducting means comprising a plurality of elongated 4bus -bar conductors in each of said sections and a plurality of bus bar conductor structures in said power take-olf device; each of said sections comprising an elongated housing and a plurality of said bus bar conductors supported in the housing in a spaced stacked relationship; said power take-off device comprising support means and said plurality of bus bar conductor structures supported on said support means in a spaced stacked relationship; connecting means connecting said two sections and said power take-oit device together at a connection in lapped sets with each lapped set comprising a dilerent bus bar conductor from each of said sections and a different bus bar conductor structure 'om said power take-off device and with said sections 'being connected in a generally end-to-end relationship; insulating spacing means at said connection spacing and insulating said sets from each other; said connecting means comprising securing means in a tightenedcondition drawing said sets and said insulating spacingvmeans together in a stacked compact sandwiched relationship. at said connection; said insulating spacing means comprising a separateinsulating spacing member, oneach:o,f two opposite sides of said plurality ofbus bar conductors and bus bargconductor structures andaseparate insulating spacing member between each pair of adjacent sets; each of said insulating spacingmembergeach of saidbus bar conductors and eachof saidbus bar conductor, structures having opening means therein; said securing means corn-v prising a single bolt means ,extending rthrought. said opening means in said insulating spacing members, said bus bar conductors and said bus barconductor structures; said insulating spacing members comprising a first surface means engaging said .conducting means to `-Ieffect sai d connection; said securing means being -loosenable and said power take-off4 device'being removable-from. said connection when said securing means isloosened; said securing` means being -tightenable when saidpower takef olf device is removed.;y and said insulating spacing mem-y bers 'comprising asecond Vsurfacemeans for engaging said bus-bar conductors to effect a connection between said bus bar conductors when said securing means is tightened with said powertake-oft device removedlwhich tightening will draw said insulating spacing members and said bus bar conductors together in a stacked compact sandwiched relationship.

8. The combination according to claim 7; each ofsaid bus bar conductor structures comprising a pair of spaced conductors lapping the associated two bus bar conductors on each of two opposite sides of the associated two bus ba-rlz'conductorsg. each: ofwsaid `spaced vconductors 'comprising/a generally..U-shaped conductor. :comprising two spaced-legs; each Zopf. said insulating spacing members onlthe` two oppositensidesv of said busi bar conductors and bus bai-conductor structurescomprising a-ipairiof spaced slots at-the inner side thereof forv-receivingwthe spaced legs ofgthe associated-spaced conductor; eachof the insulating spacing members ,between-each'tpair of-adjacent setszcom prising :a pair ofvspaced slots vatzeach oftwo oppositesides thereonl for vreceiving '.the .f 'associated space 2 legs of i the associated space. conductor; said Afirst( surface.:means Yof said insulating spacing members comprising the lbottoms' lReferences (x'lited` I.

V6/ 1931" i Austria" Y LARAMI E: ASKIN,v Primary Eqamner wing-i, 

